Miami Group Wants Panel To Have Power Over Police

Miami — A coalition of community activists hoping to form a civilian investigative panel in the city may face some tough questions from commissioners when they present their proposal July 10.

Their plan calls for the formation of a nine-member panel including representatives from People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Spanish American League Against Discrimination and from the community relations boards of the county and the city. Police or former law enforcement officers would be barred from joining the panel.

Panel members would have the power to review police policies, subpoena officers accused of wrongdoing and level sanctions against officers that could include termination, the proposal details.

One City Commissioner, Johnny Winton, said that while he supports the formation of an investigative panel with the authority to subpoena, he questions giving punitive power to an independent entity.

"The concept of the committee having disciplinary authority doesn't sound rational to me. It sounds like the committee would take over the administrative duties of the police department. I would have to hear a lot more about the rationale on that move," Winton said.

Howard Simon, Miami ACLU executive director, disagrees.

"We have had experiences in this community where the police are policing themselves and it hasn't worked," he said.

Winton, who chairs the commission's charter review committee, said he would also question the coalition's push to incorporate the proposal into the city charter. The commission would have to put the matter before the voters in November if the charter is to change.

"I'm not sure that you want a civilian panel overseeing the police department forever," Winton said.

He said his committee is already planning at least 100 charter amendments, and the civilian review panel "could be a real lightning rod either for or against all of the charter changes that we're planning to put to the voters."

Coalition members said they will be prepared to gather the needed 20,000 signatures needed to place the item on the ballot should commissioners fail to take up the measure.

Support for an independent police review panel picked up following several police shootings in recent months, some involving other police agencies.

Mayor Joe Carollo listed his recommendations on forming a review panel, and Police Chief Raul Martinez formed a Blue Ribbon Committee to look into the matter. Earlier this week Carollo and Martinez unveiled their plans for an independent investigative committee, neither of which would have the authority to sanction officers.

The coalition's proposal also has the support of Commissioner Arthur E. Teele, Jr., said Bess McElroy, coalition chair and P.U.L.S.E. president.

"We think it stands a chance of being passed," McElroy said.

Jason T. Smith can be reached at jsmith@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5006.